Railroad-crossing signal



c. w. F. smou,

RAILROAD CROSSING SlGNAL.

APBLlcATloN min Has. 2x. 191s.

; 1,328,854, Patented Jan.27,1920. 1 F' .1

N. SM

attorno CARL W. F. STROBEL, OF LIMA, OHIO.

RAILROAD-CROSSING SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Application inea February 21', 191s. serial No. 218,475.

To all Ikom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL W. F. STROBEL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Railroad- Crossing Signal; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a railroad crossing signal, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby a train approaching from either direction will automatically cause an alarm to be sounded, said alarm continuing to sound while the train is passing the crossing and being automatically cut off after the train has proceeded to a point beyond the cross- Further objects of the invention are to provide a crossing signal of this character which is dependable in its operation, which can be installed upon any railroad track and arranged to be actuated by the usual rolling stock, and which is entirely auto# matic in its operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding'of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a railroad crossing provided with a signal constructed in accordance with the invention, portions being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the trip actuated switch boxes which are mounted upon the track at opposite sides of the crossing, the electric wiring for the crossing signal being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through one of the switch boxes.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indi cated in all the views of the drawings by theI same reference characters.

Referring .to the drawings, which illus` trate one embodiment of the invention, the reference character A designates a railroad track which is of the conventional construction, and B a crossing. A signal post 1 is arranged in a convenient position at the crossing and a signal such as the electric bell 2 mounted thereon. *Switch boxes E and F which are similar inv construction are mounted upon the track A at opposite sides of the crossing, said boxes containing train actuated switch means for automatically sounding the bell or alarm 2 upon the approach of a train and stopping the bell after the train has passed the crossing.

The switch boxes E and F may be conveniently mounted between adjacent pairs of railroad ties, being shown in the present instance as each provided with end iianges 3 which rest upon and are secured to the ties. A removable cover 4 closes the top of each of the boxes E and F, said cover being lonW gitudinally slotted 'to receive the upper end of an upright trip lever 5 which projects above the box and may be bent laterally at 5l so as to project into the path of the` wheels of the rolling'stock and be engaged thereby. The trip lever 5 is provided at an intermediate point in its length with a ball 6 which is loosely seated in a suitable socket provided by notches 7 in the upper edges of a pair of transversely extending and upwardly converging walls 8. A weight 94 is applied to the lower end of the trip lever 5 and normally holds the same in an upright position, although it is free to swing laterally in either direction. The upwardly converging walls or uprights 8 are fianged at their lower endsas indicated at 8a, so that they can be secured to the bottom of the switch box, and the upper edges of the walls are spaced from each other so that the lever can be readily inserted in position when the removable side plate 10 at one side of the box is displaced.

A pair of arms 11 project laterally from opposite sides of each of the trip levers 5, being shown as inclined downwardly therefrom. These arms 11 terminate overthe upper ends of, and are intended to actuate the respective plungers 12 and 13 of switches which are mounted within the box upon opposite sides of the upright lever. These plungers are slidably` mounted within brackets or guide arms 14, being arranged for vertical movement, and being normally held .in an' elevated position by springs 15. Contacts 16 and 17 are arranged under the respective .plungers 12 and y13 'so 'as "to be engaged thereby to close electric circuits when the plungers are moved 4downwardly against the action of the springs 15. These contacts 16-and 217 mayibe support-ed inany suitable manner, as upon-thebrackets.18, being properly insulated so that the electric ycircuitswill notclose untilthefplungers are actuated. With this construction .it will be Vobvious that when thetrip leverisfmoved .in .one direction -the plunger '-12 will .-be

moved downwardlI into `enga'gement Ywith :'thevcontaet.16,\wh1le when the trip lever is swung in Ithe opposite' direction the plunger 13 .will .be 'moved downwardly into-engagement @with vthetcontact y17.

*.By reference .to aFig. 3 it ywillbeV observed -v.that the iplungers y 12 and -13 arefr-,eversely arnranged within the-two switch @boxes Fond F, .although .in fall other respects .the lswitch mechanism .within I. the two 'boxes' is f identical in construction. 4The plungers..12f-areffmount- .ed to returnk to-their voriginalpositions and v :open-the circuits .controlled thereby-.as soon yreleased .by the .trip levers Qn the contrary, theplungers `-13 .lare adapted ytol be held in .openativeposition-.by.detents 19-I` until f electrofmagnets .2Oy are energized and .caused to -swingthe detents away `from ttheplun- `vugers. vThe electrofmagnet 20= of eac'h off-the @switchboxes E y.and F is interposed inan electrictcircuit .which is-controlled by the Vplunger .l2 ..of the .opposite switch box. A vtr-ainx approaching the .crossing ffroanv .either ,"dinection will operate .the ltrip lever .5pt

l,ga-gerthetrip lever 5..ofthe otlier switch box .and yopera-te the same fto .movetthe .plunger 12 ofi the said yother.switch boxfinto ,engage ment with-the :contact 16,.y thereby closing the circuit of-theelectro;magnet 20 offthe first switch box. Asilsoon 'as thiselectrofma-gnet -gis :energized it. will attract the detent119and r disen gage thesame from the, .plunger .13- of Jthe gfirst switch .b ox, thereby i. permitting the plunger yto be moved. upwardly into :its original yipositionaby. the-action of. the spring 15.

.This ovens thecircuitof the,-..,bell 2.softhat lthe f bell )is automati cally stopped fater. the

.1ra-inf has ffproceededi bevond '.-thepcrossing `f1.1mh-l.-ithe.:exioslts Signal Ymay be wired is indicated diagrammatically by Fig. 3. The main feed wires 22 and 23 mayreceivecurrent from any suitable source such as that indicated at 24. The wire 23 Aleads to the plunger 13 of the switch box F. From the contact 17 of saidplunger 13 a wire Y25 leads to one of the'terminals of the bell 22. .Another wire 26 leads from the other terminal of the bell 2 to the main feed wire 22. Thecircuitthroughthe bell .will

rthusfbe'closed when the :plunger 413 of the switch -box VF is moved downwardly into -cngagement with the contact17. A train vvapproaching -the crossing 'trom the `right hand side "would wOperatethe `switch in this manner and cause the` bell 2 )to kbesounded.

In Fig. tthecplunger 1.3 Visfshown as locked inoperativeposition by the detenti19..AI" ter the .trainhas passed'overthevcrossing it will-.engage .thetrip lever 5-oi.the opposite switch box E :and swing the sameto `move .the plunger `12 lthereof into engagement ywith ,the-contact 16. A wire27 leads fronrthe iced fwire.23tothefsaid plunger 12, while ,a

wire281leads from .the said contactt16 ,tofone .of ,tl1e1ternii1ials of the electrofmagnet v2()` ot .the .switch box F, theother terminar: of the :said 'electro-magnet kbeing'connected by a .wire29 tothe wire 26 throughwhich itcommunicates with the other feed wire 22. The operation `of the gplunger 12 of ,the `switch box Ethus closes `the circuit-of themagnet .20 ofythe switch boxF -and causesfthe de- .tent 1.9 .to beswung back into inoperative position fThe plunger l13yofthe vswitch. box 1F Ais thus released and movedI upwardly into its original positioneby the action ofthe spring 15, thereby opening the circuit of the bell and stopping the ringing oi the bell..

A train approaching .the crossing from /thelei'thandside will engage thetriplever 5 oit .the switchbox 'E and cause the same to move the plunger 13.015 ythe `said yswitch box into operative position, whereupon the plunger -will beengaged bythe detente l-fluand locked in operative position. A ,wire 30 leads from the plunger 13 ofthe .switch box 1E to the-.endet the wire k27,.w'hich in v turn yleads .to the main feed .wire 23. The contact `17 of the switch box E is connected to a wire 31 which leadsto the-'wire 25, said wirf-leading to one of the lterminals-'olf the bell 2. The return circuit 'from .thebell 2 is completed through the wire 26. The bell thus continues toA ring as long as theE plunger y13of:theswitch boxE is held in operative position,

A tter the` train: has passed over the crossing it engages the trip leverfy of the switch .and swings the same to .actuate the plunger `12 of they said switch. box. This .plunger is connected :by-awire 3.2.to .the wire -27 whichdeads-to the inaiirfeed wiref23. *The contact 16.0f this lplunger 12is.,con

nected to a wire-wghicltleads 130. .Onefthe -terminals et the electro-magnet 2O of the switch box E, the other terminal of the electro-magnet being connected by a wirek 34 to the wire 26 which leadsbaclr to the other main -feed wire 23. The actuation of the plunger 12 ot the switch box F will thus energize the electro-magnet 20 of the switch box E and swing the detent 19 of the switch box E into inoperative position, thereby releasing the plunger 13 or the switch box E and permitting the same to be moved upwardly into its original position by the spring 15. r1`he bell circuit is thus broken and the parts are all returned to their original positions so that the signal can be operated by another train approaching the crossing from either direction.

Having thus described the invention, what lf claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A railroad crossing signal includingV switch boxes adapted to be mounted upon thetrack on opposite sides of the crossing, an electric signal for the crossing, an upright trip lever mounted within each switch box and projecting into the path of the roll ing stock so as to be swung in either direction according to the direction in which the rolling stock is moving, an electric switch mounted within each box and arranged to be closed by the movement of the trip lever in one direction, circuits including the said switches and the electric signal, detents for locking the said switches in a closed position, electro-magnets mounted adjacent to the detents, a second electric switch mounted within each box and arranged to be closed by the movement oi" the trip lever in the opposite direction, and electric circuits including the said second switches oit each box and the electro-magnet of the other box, whereby the detent of one box will be moved into inoperative position by the operation of the adjacent electro -magnet when the second switch of the other box is closed.

2. A railroad crossing signal' including switch boxes adapted to be mounted upon the track on opposite sides or the'crossing, an electric signal at the crossing, an upright trip lever mounted within each box and projecting into the path oil the rolling stock so as to be swung in either direction accordto the direction in which the rolling stock is moving, lateral arms projecting in opposite directions from each trip lever, a plunger slidably mounted within each switch box on each side of the trip lever, one of the plungers being adapted to be actuated by the corresponding lateral arm of the trip lever when the trip lever is moved in either direction, electric circuits including the signal and controlled selectively by one of the plungers of each of the boxes, means for holding the said plungers in operative position, and means actuated by the opposite plunger of each box for releasing the first mentioned plunger of the other box.

3. A railroad crossing signal including switch boxes adapted to be mounted upon the track on opposite sides of the crossing, an electric signal at the crossing, an upright trip lever mounted within each box and projecting into the path of the rolling stock so as to be swung in either direction according to the direction in which the rolling stock is moving, lateral arms projecting in opposite directions from each trip lever, a pair of spring actuated plungers mounted within each switch box and arranged in the path of the respective lateral arms so that one of the spring plungers will be operated when the trip lever is moved in either direction, electric circuits including the elec* tric signal and controlled respectively by one of the spring plungers of each of the boxes, detents for locking the said spring plun gers in operative position, electroemagnets for releasing the detents, and electric circuits including the said electro-magnets and controlled by the other plungers whereby the detent of one box will be automatically released by the actuation of the second mentioned plunger in the other box.

1i. A railroad crossing signal including switch boxes adapted to be mounted upon the track on opposite sides of the crossing, a signal at the crossing, an upright trip lever mounted within each switch box and arranged with Ithe upper end thereof projecting into the path of the rolling stock, an intermediate portion of the trip lever being provided with a ball while the lower end thereof is weighted to normally hold the trip lever in an upright position, upwardly converging walls projecting from. the bottom of each switch box and having spaced upper edges which are correspondingly notched to provide a socket ior the reception of the ball of the trip lever, the trip levers being thus free to move in either direction according to the direction in` which the rolling stock is moving, means actuated by each trip lever when moved in one direction to put the signal in operation, and means actuated by each trip 'lever when moved in the opposite direction to stop the operation of the signal.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL W. F. STROBEL.

Vitnesses:

FLORENCE L. MOHR, W, L. ROGERS. 

